Jump to content
Talk Sox
  • Create Account

5GoldGlovesOF,75

Old-Timey Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    14,922

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    29

 Content Type 

Profiles

Boston Red Sox Videos

2026 Boston Red Sox Top Prospects Ranking

Boston Red Sox Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits

Guides & Resources

2025 Boston Red Sox Draft Pick Tracker

News

2026 Boston Red Sox Draft Tracker: Picks & Bonuses

Forums

Blogs

Events

Store

Downloads

Gallery

Everything posted by 5GoldGlovesOF,75

  1. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    If they're signing Adames, they will make him fit by trading someone else, which in turn will make someone else fit (either at DH or hopefully, on the mound). The odds of who that would be probably rule out Story first (righty bat, contract, and rare good D compared to the rest of the candidates), then Devers (300 million reasons why). The favorites to go would be Grissom or Campbell (so Willy can play 2B), Casas (so Willy can play 3B) or Yoshida (so everyone can alternate taking days off from the field).
  2. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    How about: Devers off 3B would improve the defense, immensely... ... if he can play a passable 1B, it could even help the D on the other side of the infield. Plus, adding a formidable righty-swinging bat at 3B helps balance the batting order. And since Brez stated he needed to improve both the defense and offense, this type of move makes too much sense (especially with a pitching coach who stresses pitch-to-weak-contact breaking balls).
  3. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    That '04 Yankee team never gets mocked enough, though, for not bunting -- even one time -- on a crippled pitcher, at home, in front of a rabid crowd, with only a trip to the World Series on the line. At least they chose an honorable choke.
  4. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    ARod should've been more highly regarded. When he joined New York, he deferred to royalty by moving to third base, even though he was clearly the better shortstop: through 2003, 9.4 dWAR vs. -2.0 dWAR for Jetes. Plus, ARod won three AL MVPs, two as a Yankee, to Jeter's zero. But Alex was a tool, slapping the ball out of Bronson Arroyo's glove, yelling "I got it!" as a baserunner to distract infielders, sticking needles in his butt, getting suspended. Ya, that. For Yankees fans, it always comes down to the perception of ARod being unclutch -- which is unfortunately more prevalent than the other way around in sports since only one team wins the last game (in baseball, that's what, 25 guys out of 750)... ... and Jeter has five rings, and will forever be the hero who threw out Giambi with a backhand flip, and face-whomped into a chair, after catching a pop-up and then running 25 yards before diving into the stands.
  5. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Arms are ok for competitions and collectors. But too many seem to get weaponized, for some reason.
  6. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Big Papi said he's confident about Soto coming to Boston. That would seem like a very positive note, since Ortiz is close to both the Red Sox and the Sotos. Then again, David was also confident last summer about the Sox making some big deadline moves that would thrust them into the playoffs... ... if the mouthpieces in the front office are deceiving Big Papi, what does that say about how they're treating the fans? (sorry, until something really good actually happens, I still get the creeps -- like the franchise also produces horror movies that buy World Series front row seats and pays dupes to stand there fake-smiling all night).
  7. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Brez said he has to find a way to balance the batting order, and that has to mean more than just give the second base job to Grissom or Kristian Campbell. Even if they get Soto, there's no way the Sox don't also add a Renfroe-Duvall-O'Neill-Gomes-Napoli righty power bat. Best case scenario: Anthony and Campbell win jobs by May and by summer are the 21st century Lynn and Rice. How's this for a healthy batting order in the postseason - Duran, Campbell, Devers, Teoscar, Casas, Anthony, Story, Teel, Rafaela...
  8. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Of course... Teoscar is a much more reasonable -- and likely -- alternative to Soto. Breslow has said from the beginning of the offseason the Red Sox need starters, relievers and righty bats. He never said Juan Soto was a need. He might be generational, but Hernandez is generatable (generator that supplies power when the dugout grid loses all Tyler O'Neills).
  9. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Pedroia is a Red Sox Hall of Famer. Lasting memories of Pedey diving to glove a hard shot and firing to a base for an out in big spot, or drilling a hit to start or extend a rally when it mattered most. Can't say I saw much of Utley, but maybe his fans have similar images. Bb-ref stats are comparable: High Leverage BA/OPS- Utley .281/.832; Pedroia .309/.836 Medium Leverage BA/OPS- Utley .273/.820; Pedroia .300/.805 Low Leverage - BA/OPS- Utley .274/.822; Pedroia .295/.793 Utley's Most Similar Batter was Ian Kinsler, who in college transferred from Arizona State after Pedroia beat him out at shortstop. Pedroia's Most Similar Batter was Howie Kendrick, the 2019 NLCS MVP whose homer drove in the runs that won the World Series. Second Most Similar was Bogaerts, who won five Silver Sluggers at shortstop.
  10. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    If Soto signs with Boston, don't expect him to bat after Devers in the line-up. Soto batting second in the Yankees' order just helped Judge have his best year. Juan didn't protect the MVP batting in that spot, but what he did do all year was wear pitchers down so that their arms were hanging by the time they faced Judge -- who got a lot of cookies to crush... and Cookie Monster seldom missed. The guy who will protect Raffy -- and be a perfect contrast following him in the batting order -- is Teoscar Hernandez. Three years at a Qualifying Offer salary might get him to Boston -- at 1/10th of a Soto-projected contract... which leaves plenty to sign Max Fried. Teoscar in Beantown for his age 32, 33 and 34 seasons might also provide solid veteran leadership for a up-and-coming club full of regulars in their 20s.
  11. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    We should know by now not to anticipate a top Boras' client signing early -- or even timely, before Spring Training. GM/CBOs committed to upgrade with multiple free agents and trades simply cannot wait for one big Juan Soto decision to steer them into Plan B, C or Z... because the ones who don't wait will swoop in and nab the prizes on their lists. It's like American Pickers. They always need a small ice-breaker first to get the transactions in motion. Pay retail for the small, pitted Coke sign with paint chips before making an offer on the mint DeSoto in the garage.
  12. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    It all depends if readers think good writing is repeatable, or maybe she just delivers good articles in the pivotal crunch time of offseasons... when reactions speak louder than inactions (and a pitcher is worth a thousand words). It's not a knack, she's just good.
  13. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Not spending money to upgrade is the reason for "painful" trades, as Breslow calls them, even though his deals have been painless, so far (except for maybe watching them present the Cy Youngs last night). We've been joking for half a decade that the Sox should swap some middle infield prospects for needs, and last summer they did just that -- though Yorke, Coffey and Paulino didn't hurt, at this point in their careers. But Sam now says upgrades are urgent, like he just chugged a gallon of press conference, the night before a GI procedure. So expect some spending... because it would be more surprising if they went all these years developing -- and advertising -- really good young minor leaguers, only to trade some away on the brink of becoming core members of the next, ok? team.
  14. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    '72 was a tough one, but a fun year. '74 is maybe the most underrated Red Sox choke of that era: first place on August 23rd by 7 1/2 games... and they finished freaking third. Lowlight of '74 was losing a Labor Day doubleheader in Baltimore by identical, excruciating 1-0 scores. Tiant and Lee pitched great in 8-inning complete games, but Grimsley and Cuellar were better in 9s (if the internet existed back then, it might still be extinct after Sox Nation blew it to Kingdom Dumb).
  15. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    For a sec, thought you were paraphrasing "Helter Skelter" -- I almost scrambled for the blow-torch in the tool shed.
  16. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Season-ticket holders should have opt outs. If the team doesn't spend to upgrade during the offseason, or either buy or sell at the deadline, season-ticket holders should be able to opt out of the second half and get refunds. And while we're at it, regular guys should have opt-outs from the draft beers they buy at Fenway. If the beer gets warm in the plastic cups before half-empty, they get to dump them at the door of the president's office. If the beer stays cold, however, the drinker can opt in, and get his cup topped off at the tap.
  17. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    "Giving away Bagwell while a prospect was bad enough, but the Red Sox had a HOFer about to enter his prime... and couldn't keep him."
  18. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Breslow is way ahead of you. He already recruited a high-ranking Rays' front office guy, Taylor Smith, to "assist" the other John Henry loyalists upstairs. After a full year, Brez looked at all the recent big money "investments" -- Story, Yoshida, Devers, Giolito -- and said, "Wait, I signed that last guy... we need help -- call TAMPA!"
  19. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    I think he meant these were two separate mistakes, because Bloom pretty much sucked at the majority of his moves and non-moves. Nothing against the guy; he's young enough to learn, and I'll bet his tenure in St. Louis turns out better (though I cannot and will not give a GM/CBO credit for selecting any best player available in any draft, because that's his job). As for Mookie, I can't say this better, four years later (from the Pay Mookie Thread!): "Boston losing Betts can't be as bad as losing Babe Ruth, but I fear it will be the biggest Red Sox mistake since -- one that media and rival fans will haunt our sons with for a long time... especially, if the BoSox blow much of their savings on free agent busts filling unavoidable voids, trying to win back fans."
  20. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Except for Raffy -- who we all thought they were forced to extend -- all the others you listed were "stealth" signings by our clever conglomerate of good ole boy lifers in the front office. The Assistant Vice Presidents get together each offseason to cleverly outbid themselves for a free agent that no other club could give a market value to...
  21. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Never mind the proposed additions. What struck me, looking at salaries, is that Yoshida will get paid more money this season than Duran, Casas, Abreu, Rafaela, Wong, Refsnyder and Hamilton combined. And Story -- the Sale of position players -- will get $4 million more than Masa. And of the returning starting pitchers, Giolito -- who still hasn't thrown a pitch in an official Red Sox game yet -- will get paid more than Houck, Bello, Crawford, Whitlock and Criswell combined. Even if the MLB payscale game is structured such, there always has to be some hard feelings (unsaid mostly, but existing) with such inequities on a roster of highly competitive pro athletes.
  22. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Is this really a time for a fancy new car? Looks and runs great, but the old water boiler is starting to rust, and with winter coming, heat and hot water may be more of a priority. If the pipes freeze and crack, damages could also include new walls, furniture, and carpet. Plus, there's a bus stop right on the corner, and the train station is a block away. So do we really need a Maserati? Or even a Felger?
  23. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    When the Big Three was called up to Worcester, Mayer was the leading hitter in the Eastern League, Teel was second, and Anthony led in extra-base hits. The point is, if these guys have serious holes to be exploited, what hope is there for all the other minor league batters who weren't as good? In early Portland games I attended, all three guys took humungous swings and misses, but Mayer was the most consistent line drive machine. In later Worcester games I attended, Anthony and Teel both made better contact by going to the opposite field more. Campbell, by the time he joined them in the summer, just crushed everything everywhere. The weight shift was exaggerated, but so were the pitches that jumped off his barrel. It will interesting if that success sustains itself at the top level.
  24. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    Because Story is a five-tool player in the National League, a guy who averaged 4.5 WAR per season in 6 years in the NL West... instead of the 4 WAR he's earned total in 3 years in the AL East?
  25. 5GoldGlovesOF,75
    I like your breakdowns on these moves, and am intrigued by Vlad -- because if Boston misses out on Soto (which, face it, we all expect), then the Red Sox surely have all that Soto money to sign another masher in his prime, plus considerable other funds to spend on arms. Trading Casas and replacing him with Vlad also goes a lonnnnnnnggg way in achieving Breslow's stated goal of balancing out the batting order.
×
×
  • Create New...